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NYC: As City Reopens, Council Delays Vote on DeBlasio’s Disastrous Soho, NoHo Re-zoning Plan

Roger Friedman
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NYC: As City Reopens, Council Delays Vote on DeBlasio’s Disastrous Soho, NoHo Re-zoning Plan

Good News? I hope so. I’m reprinting here Andrew Berman’s report from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. This about Mayor DeBlasio’s disastrous proposal to unleash real estate developers on Soho and NoHo. He must be stopped. He’s already done so much to wreck the city. And he doesn’t care about Manhattan at all. For example, a tent city of homeless is now set up at Sixth Avenue and 8th St in front of what was Liquiteria (formerly Grays Papaya). On Sixth Avenue between 8th St and Waverly Place on both sides of the avenue stores are for rent like it’s the Great Depression. We have no supermarket in the neighborhood. Businesses can’t survive because of the greedy landlords. This has all happened under DeBlasio, and it’s citywide. (PS Andrew Yang will not solve these problems. Forget about that.)

Berman writes:

“This afternoon, without explanation or comment, the City postponed its vote to certify the Mayor’s proposed SoHo/NoHo (and Chinatown) rezoning, with no new date given. The City had failed to provide required materials about the plan. The plan has to be certified to proceed, and there are only a limited number of scheduled meetings during which this can be done with enough time for it to be voted upon before the end of the year, when the Mayor and much of the current City Council leave office. We will let you know if and when a new date has been scheduled for a certification vote.

“In other positive news, this morning two of the city’s oldest, largest, and most respected tenant and housing advocacy groups came out strongly against the Mayor’s rezoning plan with an op-ed in the Daily News — read it here. The piece cites and references our study showing how the Mayor’s plan would destroy affordable housing and make housing in these neighborhoods more expensive and the population less socio-economically and racially diverse, and supports our Community Alternative Plan. The piece directly calls upon Council members Chin and Rivera and Borough President Brewer to oppose the plan.

“In recent weeks, opposition to the Mayor’s plan has grown, including from Chinatown/social justice groups, former members of the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, the venerable Municipal Art Society (which lobbied for the city’s first zoning laws), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation League of New York State.

“Finally, residents of SoHo and NoHo including our friends at the SoHo Alliance and Broadway Residents Committee have filed a lawsuit against the plan — read more here.

“We can’t take anything for granted, and have to keep our momentum going. The coming weeks will be critical in determining if this hyper-development plan, which would destroy these neighborhoods and push out long-time businesses and residents, will be approved and serve as a model for further rezonings throughout our city.”

“Sex and the City” Reboot Will Add Black Characters: Jennifer Hudson Could Return from Original Film as “Louise”

Roger Friedman
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“Sex and the City” Reboot Will Add Black Characters: Jennifer Hudson Could Return from Original Film as “Louise”

Word today that the “Sex and the City” reboot will add three Black female characters.

Maybe they’ve forgotten– I doubt it– but there was a major Black character in the first movie. Jennifer Hudson, hot off her Oscar win for “Dreamgirls,” played Louise, their new buddy.

Louise just faded away but of course JHud went on to become a superstar. In August we will finally see her as Aretha Franklin in “Respect,” which could result in a new Oscar nomination. JHud is plenty busy.

But wouldn’t it make sense for this limited run reboot for Louise to come back, singing? Since 2008, JHud has openly worked on having the best figure in town, and that won’t hurt. She’s more than ever all about fashion — besides singing and dancing.

And Louise keeps the show PG since we’re not going to see JHud naked or hear her cursing like a sailor!

In the 2008 movie, Louise was hired as Carrie’s assistant to help her manage her life. At the end she returned to St. Louis. But a great storyline would be Louise having made it as a singer and return to New York a star!

Cross fingers this happens.

“American Idol” Will Try To Bolster Ratings By Forcing Contestants to Sing Coldplay Songs Next Week

Roger Friedman
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“American Idol” Will Try To Bolster Ratings By Forcing Contestants to Sing Coldplay Songs Next Week

“American Idol” has found a new way to torture contestants: make them sing Coldplay songs.

Next Sunday, Coldplay’s Chris Martin will mentor the seven finalists, who will then each have to sing one of the band’s songs.

Coldplay’s hits, “Viva La Vida” and “Clocks,” are basically designed for the band and not for others to attempt. They’re fun but kind of droney, with strange lyrics. Also, “Viva La Vida” was the subject of a major plagiarism scandal.

Last night’s “Idol” scored 5.2 million viewers, a little down from two weeks ago but way up from last Sunday when the audience watched the Oscars.

On last night’s show the audience voted out three of the contestants including Alyssa, who I thought had potential to win. Instead, they allowed in some clunkers. We’ll see how this all shakes out. Alyssa is far better than Grace, who made the cut. Maybe one day she’ll be a big star and be a judge on “The Voice.”

 

Disney-Marvel Drops a Black Panther Clue About Michael B. Jordan in New Sizzle Reel: “That man next to you, he’s your brother”

Roger Friedman
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Disney-Marvel Drops a Black Panther Clue About Michael B. Jordan in New Sizzle Reel: “That man next to you, he’s your brother”

Disney-Marvel announced a schedule of new movies today but the most important one is “Black Panther 2.”

It is now known as “Wakanda Forever” but will not open with Vice President Kamala Harris emerging from a Cincinnati coffee shop sipping a Wakanda Forever blend — although that would be a great scene.

Did they drop a clue about “Wakanda Forever” in the sizzle reel below? At :43 the narration over TChalla and Erik Killmonger says “That man next to you, he’s your brother.” Hold on! Are the two foes brothers in some way? Will Killmonger be revived from death?

Ryan Coogler’s sequel to his billion dollar franchise will come on July 8, 2022, which isn’t too far from now. So we can assume Coogler and co. have a script and know how they will address the death of Chadwick Boseman aka T’Challa aka the Black Panther.

Since the Black Panther can only be blood related, fans are guessing that Shuri, his sister, played by Letitia Wright, will assume the mantle.

But it’s likely that Michael B. Jordan will somehow be repurposed into the screenplay as the hero even after his Erik Killmonger was killed in the first movie. Jordan is now too big a star and too identified with “Black Panther” not to be in the movie. Killmonger will somehow rise from his ashes in the sea. My guess is he’ll marry Shuri, surely. And don’t call me Shirley!

Jordan said in an interview last week that he’s “unlikely” to be in “Wakanda Forever” but wouldn’t rule it out. “Never say never,” he said. He didn’t want to be attached to an out and out lie, obviously. The actor’s next big job is directing “Creed III,” but that seems like it would film after “Wakanda Forever,” which would have to be made this summer and fall in order to make July 8, 2022.

But what if that is a clue in the sizzle reel? Jordan is somehow playing T’Challa’s brother? Then he might be the new Black Panther.

All the rest of the “BP” cast will be back, as well, including Angela Bassett, Danira Gurai, Winston Duke, and new Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya.

It’s amazing to think that Jordan’s career trajectory has just soared and soared. He was on “All My Children” in 2003, “Friday Night Lights” in 2009, and then starred in Coogler’s sensational and moving “Fruitvale Station” in 2013. The director and star formed a bond that lead to “BP” and superstardom. A thrilling story!

Wakanda Forever! Erik Killmonger’s “good” twin, Derek Killmonger, we wait for your appearance!

Anna Wintour Rolls the Dice on the “Dune” Remake, Makes Timothee Chalamet Host of Met Ball, Warner Bros. to Rescue Again

Roger Friedman
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Anna Wintour Rolls the Dice on the “Dune” Remake, Makes Timothee Chalamet Host of Met Ball, Warner Bros. to Rescue Again

Anna Wintour is rolling the dice on the Denis Villeneuve remake  of “Dune.”

She moved the Met Ball to September 13th. “Dune” opens October 1st after a year’s delay. Timothee Chalamet, star of “Dune,” has just been made co-chair of the Met Ball.

Anna has a 50/50 experience guess which movies will turn out alright. A couple of years ago, she gambled on “Ocean’s 8,” which turned out to be a minor hit. She let them reproduce the Met Ball in the movie, and then featured the stars at the actual gala.

By coincidence, the same studio that brought us “Ocean’s 8” is bringing us “Dune.” The timing of the movie’s release means the Met Ball will serve as a huge promotional tool. The tie ins between the Gala and the movie should be teeth clenching come mid September.

“Dune” could play the Venice Film Festival, and probably the Toronto Film Festival, all which run from September 2nd right through the 13th. Wintour is counting on glowing reviews, unlike David Lynch’s original “Dune” movie from 1984. I remember that movie launch. It wasn’t pretty. There was no Rotten Tomatoes then, but the movie has a retroactive 51% among critics. Back then it grossed $30 million, the equivalent today of $75 million. Not a blazing hit.

Wintour has struck out before when she’s invested in a movie for mutual promotion. She let Vogue get very involved in Paramount’s “Zoolander 2,” which was basically unwatchable when it was finally screened. She was even featured in it.

Anna could be a character in “Dune,” but it’s too late to digitally insert her into the sci-fi epic.

And Warner Bros.? “Dune” already cost between $165 and $200 million. Even if they kick in one or two million bucks to the Met as a donation in kind it’s no skin off their noses, and the museum benefits. It costs Wintour $4 million or so in expenses to stage the Met Ball, so if she got something from Warner Media to offset that, she’s ahead of the game. And maybe she gets some of the “Dune” cast to dress up and hit her red carpet. Cast includes Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and one name Anna will be thrilled to snag in cross promotion: Zendaya.

Billie Eilish Goes Gaga as Femme Fatale on British Vogue Cover But New Single is a Sales Dud So Far

Roger Friedman
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Billie Eilish Goes Gaga as Femme Fatale on British Vogue Cover But New Single is a Sales Dud So Far

Billie Eilish has gone all Lady Gaga on the cover of British Vogue, becoming a femme fatale a la Marilyn Monroe.

But this change in her appearance– she looks super– comes as the first new single from her second album is a sales dud.

“Your Power” was released on Thursday with a visually stunning video. But the song itself, which seems to be about a teacher who abused his position with a student, hasn’t sold well at all. After three days it’s number 15 on iTunes.

Saleswise, “Your Power” sold 2,700 copies on Thursday and Friday in downloads, but a total 57,000 in streaming. The latter sounds good, but doesn’t pay the artist much and indicates fans aren’t keen on owning it.

The song has strong lyrics that seem to be directed toward a real person, a teacher who has crossed the line with a student. From the lyrics it sounds like he’s about to get a new contract from his school.

The song is timely and topical, which is different for Eilish and brother Finneas. But it also hasn’t found an audience so far.

Maybe it’s just a loss leader, an hors d’ouevres before the album hits on July 30th. But a hit was needed. Not a strike out.

Meanwhile, Billie’s British Vogue cover is a triumph for the magazine’s editor in chief, Edward Enninful, as usual. Anna Wintour must be using the picture as a dart board!

According to Enninful in his editor’s note, Billie came to them with this idea. “Billie collaborated closely with the team here, led by style director Dena Giannini, to commission designers from Gucci to Alexander McQueen, Valentino to Burberry, on a series of custom looks.”

 

Actress Rachel Brosnahan Drawn into “Maisel” Melee in Washington Square Park as Fight Breaks Out During Shoot

Roger Friedman
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Actress Rachel Brosnahan Drawn into “Maisel” Melee in Washington Square Park as Fight Breaks Out During Shoot

Washington Square Park was not filled with beatniks and their bongo’s on Thursday when the cast and crew of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” arrived to shoot a scene for the Amazon Prime comedy.

Instead, two men in the park who had nothing to do with the location shoot got into a massive brawl adjacent to the set and drew in the “Maisel” crew.

One of the men, seen in the video below dressed in a black tank top, actually made his way to star Rachel Brosnahan and put his hands on her shoulders. A set insider told me, “We all shouted Noooo! and got Rachel away from him unscathed. She took it pretty well.”

Who didn’t take it well was director-show creator Amy Sherman Palladino, who was there with husband and co-creator-director Dan Palladino. “AMy was visibly shaken, she was crying, asking how did this happen?”

That’s a good question. “This is the only time I’ve ever worked on a location shoot without security or a hired cop,” says an observer. “The Maisel crew actually jumped into to protect everyone. It could have been much worse.”

The unit never finished the scene, in which Brosnahan’s Midge Maisel, a comedian, is going to a fake newsstand to pick up a review of her latest show. Observers saw the newsstand, made to look like it was from 1961, was full of stories about President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. (This means “Mrs. Maisel” has only advanced three years in time since it started six years ago.)

Ironically, all this happened just two blocks or less away from the spot where the real life real estate developer brothers of actor Michael Zegen, who plays Joel Maisel, want to knock down two landmarked buildings and erect a 241 foot luxury tower on lower Fifth Avenue. The local Community Board has nixed the idea, and the Landmarks Commission is waffling on allowing such a monstrosity.

In the video, you’ll see a man in a white tank top, who was thought to be homeless and mentally unwell, pick up glass bottles from a Black Lives Matter shrine and smart smashing them. A woman who was also perhaps unwell was screaming at the “Maisel” cast calling them “prostitutes.”

Also ironically, the actor who plays the toughest “Maisel” character, Alex Borstein, was in her trailer and never got to see any action. Her character, Suzie, would have handled these guys with aplomb!

Kudos to the Hollywood Fix for getting the video, and a site called thethings.com first reported the story.

As Cindy Adams would say, Only in New York, kids, only in New York

Cher Recalls Speaking to Her “Moonstruck” Mother, Olympia Dukakis, Three Weeks Ago

Roger Friedman
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Cher Recalls Speaking to Her “Moonstruck” Mother, Olympia Dukakis, Three Weeks Ago

Cher and Olympia Dukakis each won Oscars for the movie that changed their lives, John Patrick Shanley’s “Moonstruck.” They remained in touch the last 33 years.

On Twitter, Cher reports she called Dukakis three weeks ago when she heard she was failing.

She writes: “I Called In2 The Receiver ‘Olympia It’s Cher,I love
You”. Remember Moonstruck,
She Said “oh cher,I
Love you”

Wow.

And neither one of them said, Snap out of it!

RIP Oscar Winner, Beloved Actress Olympia Dukakis, Starred in “Moonstuck,” “Steel Magnolias”

Roger Friedman
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RIP Oscar Winner, Beloved Actress Olympia Dukakis, Starred in “Moonstuck,” “Steel Magnolias”

Sad news that the great Olympia Dukasis, a beloved actress who won an Oscar in 1987 for “Moonstruck,” has died. She was 89 and left indelible mark from that movie and many others including “Steel Magnolias.”

Dukakis, a cousin of Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis, a former presidential candidate, had a long marriage to another great theater and TV actor, Louis Zorich. She referred to her 1988 win as “the year of the Dukakii” because it was also the year Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, her cousin, was the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. At the ceremony, she held her Oscar high over her head and called out: “OK, Michael, let’s go!”

She appeared in five Broadway productions and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. She was also nominated for three prime time Emmy Awards.

Dukakis died in New York City, where she was considered a quintessential “New York actor.”

She was also well known and admired for her work as the character Anna Madrigal in the TV series, “Tales of the City.”

She didn’t work much until the early 1980s, when she took work on the soap “Search for Tomorrow.” But it was in 1987 when she played Cher’s mother in “Moonstruck,” that Dukakis exploded as an overnight sensation. She was 45 years old. After that, she never stopped working.

What a great lady and fine actress. She will be missed.

Grammy Winner Ledisi Has 4 Mil Views on Song “Record Company Didn’t Like” So She Released It Herself

Roger Friedman
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Grammy Winner Ledisi Has 4 Mil Views on Song “Record Company Didn’t Like” So She Released It Herself

Ledisi is a gorgeous R&B singer who’s won many Grammy awards but hasn’t had a real signature hit. She has one now with “Anything for You.” It’s a stunner and has over 4 million views on YouTube.

But now she says her record company didn’t like the song, so she released it herself. And what a great throwback R&B record. This will be a classic. Just lovely. A lot of children will be conceived to this record!

The record company she’s talking about is Verve where Ledisi released six albums over a decade, from 2007 to 2017.

The new album came out on BMG last summer, called “The Wild Card.”

PS This song should be played on Sirius XM’s “Soul Town” Channel 49. It would fit right in.

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